FOSSI: Tell us a bit about yourself.
Growing up in the Deep South, deconstructing and reassembling toys became a common pastime of mine. It was also my first encounter with engineering which fueled my desire to become a trailblazing inventor. Throughout my life, I have encountered racism and prejudice, and was labeled the "whitest black kid" for being proper and intelligent. Nevertheless, my curiosity increased fervently, although my confidence wavered with every stereotype I faced. However, the Mississippi School for Math and Science gave me an opportunity to flourish and become comfortable in my skin. There, I served as the Class President and took on numerous leadership roles, all while developing lifelong friendships and learning more about myself.
Through STEM, I hope to blaze the path for aspiring minority engineers and contribute to revolutionary robotics systems dedicated to improving the state of our world.
I fell in love with competitive robotics and even got to lead as the Team Captain at VEX Worlds. I also discovered the importance of mental health awareness and dedicated myself to assuring others that it is okay not to be okay. Most importantly, I sought to make a way out of no way, carving paths for other minority leaders to follow.
Contrary to the doubters of my past, my journey to innovate the future has only begun. At Tuskegee, I will delve further into engineering, research autonomous robotics, and work to empower the future of black youth in STEM.
FOSSI: Why are you passionate about pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field?
From youth, my parents fostered my curiosity with a toolkit, and my hobby of destroying toys evolved into explorations of constructing gadgets. High school made me trade gizmos for courses, research, and a government internship that enabled me to delve further into the world of engineering. Like myself, robotics is ever-changing, and I want to be a part of that change for a better future. STEM has given me a passion for creating things to benefit others, and one day, I dream of becoming an innovative engineer who gives back to the black youth. Through STEM, I hope to blaze the path for aspiring minority engineers and contribute to revolutionary robotics systems dedicated to improving the state of our world.
FOSSI: Why is receiving the FOSSI scholarship important for you?
As the youngest sibling of four, financial assistance was inevitable as I sought to pursue my dreams of one day becoming a trailblazing engineer. Growing up black in the Deep South presents its own problems, but with the recent pandemic altering everyday life and family members being constrained to hospital beds due to health issues, this challenge has become increasingly difficult. With the FOSSI Scholarship, I can comfortably take the first steps towards getting a doctorate without the burden of debt or student loans casting a looming financial shadow over my college journey.
FOSSI: Fast forward – where do you see yourself in ten years?
After receiving my bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Tuskegee, I plan to pursue master's and doctorate degrees specializing in robotics. After that, I plan to use my experience and knowledge to dive headfirst into ongoing robotics projects with some of the nation's best engineers. I will seek to work with a small, diverse group of specialized engineers to identify an ongoing problem in our world and begin brainstorming, designing, and constructing robots to solve this issue. Furthermore, I hope to work with local STEM outreach efforts to give back to minority youth and encourage them to chase their dreams, no matter who may stand in their way.
FOSSI: Share a few fun facts about yourself.
- Although my first name is Everett, I more often go by "CJ."
- I always tell people that I am from "the-middle-of-nowhere-Mississippi" - my hometown of Red Lick is so tiny that we are considered an "unincorporated community".
- Overcoming adversity has become second nature to me. Amongst the chaos of COVID-19, I managed to secure the Eagle Scout rank as a freshman and was one of the youngest to receive the status in my area.
- I grew up playing video games, and the Legend of Zelda series is my favorite.
- I marched second bass and tenor drums in my high school's marching band.
- I taught myself graphic design and even owned my own vinyl and sticker business during the pandemic.
Hear more from Everett about the importance of attending an HBCU.
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